Twilight knocked on the door of the local clothing store, The Carousel Boutique, and the owner, Rarity, opened the door.

"Twilight, it's so good to see you again!" She chirped in a peppy voice

"It's nice to see you too. Rarity, I would like you to meet some new residents!" She got out of the way for Flare and Hi-tech, who both waved hi. As soon as she saw them, however, her eyes widen with horror as they let in a trail of dirt.

"Um…..hi…" Rarity said, twitching.

"Nice to meet you, Rarity! My name is Flare Blitz and this is my buddy, Hi-tech!" Flare said. Hi-tech waved. Rarity waved hi and then the two started looking through the shop, tracking in more dirt. Rarity pulled Twilight to the side.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Rarity barked at Twilight

"Listen, they just moved in from a town on the other side of Everfree Forest. They are just a bit dirty is all."

"A bit?!" Rarity caught Flare and Hi-tech in her magic and walked out of the boutique, with Twilight following close behind.

"Woah Rarity, where are we going?" Flare asked

"I simply cannot let my new friends contract all that filth. We're going to the spy! They'll fix up the both of you!"

Flare and Hi-tech just looked at each out. Twilight caught up with them.

"She does this….a lot." She tried to explain.

They walked in the spa and were greeted by the counter ponies.

"Rarity!" Lotus Blossom said "what can we do ya for?"

"Give our new friends the usual!" Rarity set them down

"Um….is this going to hurt us?" Hi-tech asked nervously

"No, sweetie." Aloe said "Actually, after this, you'll feel like a whole new pony!"

After a few hours, Flare and Hi-tech exited the spa with Twilight.

"So how do you feel?" Twilight asked

"Actually, I feel great!" Hi-tech said with excitement "Never fault this clean in my life!"

"Same here!" Flare added. Twilight smiled as she turned back to go home. Hi-tech flew back to SugarCube Corner and back was wondering in the evening town. While she was walking, she saw an orange Pegasus with a red and black mane sitting on a tree branch, thinking

"The scepter of darkness…" He mumbled

"Hi!" Flare said in a cheery voice, snapping the stallion out of his train of thought

"Who are you?"

"My name is Flare Blitz! What's your name?"

He sighed "It's Flare Dart…"

"Oh, just call me Blitz then!" She said. Flare Dart just went back to thinking….until Flare interrupted him again.

"You said something about a thing called the Scepter of Darkness, what is that?" She asked curiously

He just looked at her and then sighed

"It's just a….bad feeling that I have that something is going to happening…"

"Why would you say that?"

"Like I said, it's just a hunch so I may be wrong. If so, just keep your guard up…."

"Um…ok…I will."

And with that, Flare Dart flew into the clouds. Now Flare had a bad feeling and decided to keep that in mind. He went to SugarCube Corner and saw that Hi-tech was chowing down and sweets along with Pinkie and Amy, who was taking one sweet at a time.

"Hi-tech, come on! We need to rest up because we are visiting the campus tomorrow."

She stuck up her head from the cake she was eating and faced Flare

"Here I come! See you two later!"

They left while Hi-tech was waving at them. They want back to their apartment and got prepared for bed

Flare's journal – May 15 10:55 PM

The town pony here are very nice! Rarity, through forced me and Hi-tech to get cleaned, would be a great friend to us, I just know it. But what Flare Dart told me, about something bad happening, it's just unnerving. I will definitely my guard up.

Earlier that day

Fluttershy went into the Everfree forest to pick berries for a special pie she has perfected. While out in the forest, a certain bat pony was stalking the pegasus. After she got a basket full of said berries, the bat pony swooped in.

"These berries are perfect! I'm sure that everypony will love..." She was cutted off due to a hoof to the face. She was out cold.

"Queen, target has been neutralized. What are your orders?"

"Leave her. Her friends will find her..."